Adapter features of motor stands



Oct. 6, 1953 F. c. WILSON ET AL v 2,654,147

ADAPTER FEATURES 0E MOTOR STANDS Filed Sept. 2, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l l'mventor ZUDFSJYJQQQIQ l Urf? A16/S012,

M4" Gttorneg Oct. 6, 1953 F. c. WILSON ET AL vADAPTER FEATURES oF MoToR sTANDs 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1949 d Wattorneg `Patented Oct. 6, 1953 ADAPTER FEATURES .0E MoToR STANDS Frank C. Wilson and Grant F. Silliman,

Arcade,

N. Y., assignors to The Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company,

Jack A. Ahern and David D. Nash, all of Buffalo, N. Y., as executors of the estate of Kirke R. Wilson Application September 2, 1949, Serial No. 113,818 3 Claims. (Cl. 29-289) In sundry repair and assembly operations in connection with parts of automobiles and other vehicles driven by internal combustion engines upright standards are employed which carry adapters for the direct support of the Work, i. e. the part requiring repair or assembly operations. I'he standards project from a supporting base which may be directly attached to the oor or, for the purpose of portability, to a roller mounted platform and at their upper ends have provision for the mounting of the adapters, the unit so characterized being designated as a motor stand, although the part upon which Work is to be done may be any part of the automobile or vehicle which may be supported by the motor stand, for example, among numerous other parts, the cylinder block, the transmission casing and the dierential casing. The adapter comprises a horizontal shank which is supported by the standard at its upper end and means carried by the shank for direct supporting :attachment to the Work, provision being made for the angular adjustment of the part supporting means about the axis of the shank whereby the Work may be supported at any angle best suitable to facilitate the particular job.

This invention relates to improvements in the adapter features of motorl stands of the character generally described.

One object is to provide a novel assembly of an upright supporting standard and a pair of adapters such that different parts, requiring repair or assembly operations, maybe simultaneously supported at opposite sides of the standard and in substantial lateral balance with respect thereto, may be worked upon simultaneously, and may be individually adjusted, each during the use of the other and Without interference with such use, to any angular position best suited to faciiltate the particular work to be done. Thereby a construction is provided of optimum compactness in the support of the parts requiring repair, that is to say with the parts attached for support requiring substantially no greater floor y space than a single adapter as heretofore used; in which the lateral balance, with respect to the standard, of the parts to be repaired insures the stability of their support by the standard; and

by means of which substantial savings in repair and operational costs are eiected, the Work being expedited and accomplished With minimum equipment and with minimum labor.

A further object is to enable the use of a pair of adapters for the purposes and advantages set forth in the preceding paragraph, Without any modification of the standard motor stands.

In the copending application of Grant F. `Silliman, 'Serial No. 106,309, a novel construction of adapter is shown which has the characteristic of being universa as explained in the specication of that application. A further object of the invention is to enable either or both of the pair of adapters to be of the universal construction disclosed in said application of Grant F. Silliman.

-A further obj ect is to utilize the standard shank feature of the known adapters as an element of the assembly referred to in the second paragraph of this specification and otherwise to provide a construction such that if the use of a pair of adapters should not be necessarily required a single adapter having the standard shank feature may be used and also such that any single adapter of known construction as used with a standard motor stand may readily be combined with the other features of the novel assembly which constitutes the invention, these objects being :accomplished without any substantial departure from the standard shank feature of the adapter construction.

With the above objects in View the invention is generally characterized by the combination of a supporting standard and a pair of work supporting adapters coaxially mounted at the upper end of the standard in symmetrical relation thereto and at opposite sides thereof, with one of the adapters having a shank mounted for turning movement in the upper end of the standard and positively positioned with respect to thestandard, the shank supporting both adapters from the standard, and the other adapter having a sleeve concentrically mounted for turning movement with respect to the shank. According to the invention the mounting of the adapters relatively to one another and to the standard is such that each'adapter is independently angularly adjustable about the common axis of the shank and the sleeve to any one of several positions in which it may be latched `by the cooperation of companion elements, one of which is carried by the adapter and the other of which is carried by the standard; and is also such as to enable the operative relation of the standard, the adapters and the latching means to be maintained by an assembly plate removably attached to the shank and cooperating with it and With the sleeve, the removal of the plate enabling such substitution in :a similar relation for each or both of the adapters of an adapter or adapters of dilerent form in accordance with the characteristics of the particuis iea'tjedadjacent marrant sideof the Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the 'i upper portion of the motor stand with sundry parts of the adapter features shownin'elyation andperspective. L j s.

Figure 3 is an explodedf perspective v iew of the variousl elements of a latching device utilized in the construction shown in Figures l and 2.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation withr partsishown in in the sai section, showing an adjustably altered position of y one of the work supporting adapters.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line f--E OfFg-.u-

"6 is a detail sectional View on the line Figure Zwsliowing" a clamping element whiclfmaybe' associated with either orbo't'h'rins frIliVBrSalf dalp'tei 4 c standard S'of'the motor stand projects in upright lrelation from thelisual supporting l`i'a se" S' r whici'may be secured by suitable fasten- :ifgbitsieitiier directly to` the fienidrto a piatfonl'? mountedonsxupportin'g rollers R'wher'eby tlil'inotrstand 'may bereadlfly moved fronrone ioatiorrto" another, the 'front pair of' reliefs 'a bein'gf'in the forni `"of casters. When the standard" is mounted 'on the 'platforrnulj it is profided at its "rear "SideA` with a' rearwardly and downwardly inclined Afloor engaging prop P', the rctioirof whici is to 'prevent the motor stain rfrom' tipping'"erwardly" under any unbalanciig fo'rc'e whri'theadaptnfeaturs are ih'usel The platform Ef caristheusulflr' engaging shoes, illustration 'of which" is deemed unnecessary `and prp''s'e 4ofwliifzlli l'is to' 'prevent A`the'"platform f rolrisliiftingoi:rolling whe'rth'e 'adapter fea- 1ii'i'lles areill'llse". ThSl'iS are `1"aiSed`frmltie floor or lowered to engage thiiio'or'by th'usiial hand operatedl screws P?. ""Illxie'dapter features are indicated generally at 'l'ancll are mounted 'at the' upper v"eridmofthe standard' These features include two adapt- 'r's "indicated generally at Hand'Clphe adapter carriesi work 'supporting means i" andthe adapted 'carries Work supporting means'2. iriiew rk suppdrurigfnens `l and are located s'pectively at"ppsite sides ofthestaridard thatisto saythe worksupporting means i A standard and; theivorli'supportingV means 2 is located acljaerit tnereaf'side 'of th'e"standre." 1n the drawings'th'e" wor1= 'supportingineans' and u2 areI shown 'as 'simultaneously utilized for the supp't"of"`diiferent parts' upon'which repair "or assembly 'opera-'tions are to be performed; ritfilr 1 th, Work, Srlpoftingmensf l' is showt as attached to a cylinder block F indicated generally by dot and dash lines and the Work supporting means-2 isshown as attached to a differential casing'D, similarly indicated. -lt will, of; course, be understoodthat any parts which requires repair or assembly worl; may be attached fao'r vsupporting purposes to'the work supporting meansIf-and if; For example in Figure 2 the part upon which repair or'lassernbly operations are to'bel` performed is a differential casing D f; #differentiate fem ma shown in figure 1 and the part 2 is equipped with clamp elements E for the purpose of its supporting attachment to the casing D'.

In the contemplation of the invention either or both of the adapters, in respect to the work supporting means, may accord with the known tutti?? White the* W91?? Sametime imeans is individu-ally fashioned with regard to the support of a particular part or, as preferred, either 'c'r both adapters may carry work supporting ffieansin 'accordance with the construction shown A @pending application of Grant F. sopraan, eriarno.'-106,s0a As herein shown adapter 'conforms to the prior construction in"that-`the*work'supporting means i which it carries isA specialy designed for supporting attachrnenlt to a particular part which, as sho-wn iiltiifdraviigjis-fthe cylinder block r' of the conventional automobile motor and the work supporting means 2 ofY the adapter C conforms to the invention disclosed in -said copenl'ing apbufete an e d of the cette enligne' veterinarian "tres anais aise fo fmed with a central Collars to' 'at i'r @He "rearwardly traiteurs' screw Qf" thi@ completed by 'a dtc'iitiever '9 `which is "p'iijoted, ase wi;

tweer a`ipair'of ears` l" frned'on and projecting f'utward' Efr'omth'e sleeve Il? the forwardly v'proyecting 4arrn |'2 "of :the levier` 9 servingfasat c "gpieceandthe rearwardlyprojecting air'ni i3 beingerfgageable with latchingieifect, sfshowrf in'rigure 'afin a'nyion'e or the peripher'alhtch'es TSA-In order" to 'effect an" angular relocation1 f the part' uponwhich repairor assembly work isbeing 'done,e; g; therylinder block F, the`arm1`2fof the lever 9 is depressed, thereby to disengage the-arml. from the notch Finwl'iich itY was previously engaged; the Work supporting means -1 is thereupon-grasped and, used. as. a leverde tiene@ 'te time the supported mit into. the, desire@ pesitia te@ Shank 3,. and

'is 7angib.

a the plate 6 participating in the turning movement of the part I. The position in which the part I is relocated will accord with the registry of a notch 'I with the recess provided between the ears II whereupon the detent lever 9 is manipulated to engage its arm I3 in such notch, thereby to secure the vehicle part in the particular angular position to which it has been moved.

The adapter C is mounted coaxially with respect to the shank 3 and includes a sleeve I4 which provides a tubular shank rotatably mounted upon the collar 8 as a journal, the sleeve I4 having at its inner end a circumscribing' annular index ange I5 which abuts the index plate 6. The flange I5 is a part of a latching device by means of which the work supporting means 2 and the part which it carries and upon which work is tobe done may be set in any angular position best suitable to facilitate the particular job. For latching purposes the iiange I5 is formed with a series of suitably spaced peripheral notches I6, similar to the notches l. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the latching device for the adapted C is completed by an axially movable latch finger I'I 'which is slidably fitted in a channel formed in a supporting block I8 attached to the standard S, a spring I9 acting upon the lower end of the finger I1 serving normally to hold said finger in latching eng-agement with one of the notches I6. In order to move the finger I1 against the pressure of the spring I9, thereby to effect its disengagement from any of the notches I6, the block I8 carries a pivoted arm 20 which is connected by a loosely fitting pivot to the finger I 'I and incidentally confines the finger in its guide channel. When the angular position of the part carried by the adapter C is to be altered the finger II is disengaged from the index iiange I5 and the adapter and the part which it carries are thereupon turned to bring the part to the desired position in which one of the notches I5 will be in alinement with the finger I'I. At such time the arm 20is released yand the spring I9 moves the linger I1 into engagement with its alining notch I6, thereby to secure the part in its relocated position.

It will be noted that the angular adjustment of each adapter B or C is made independently of the other, that is to say, the work supporting means I may be relocated independently of the work supporting means 2 and vice versa. 'I'hus Figures 4 and 5 assume that the adapter Cj has been adjusted to a position ninety degrees distant from the position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2 with its work supporting means 2 positioned horizontally instead of vertically while the adapter B remains held in the position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2. It will, of course, be obvious that by following the procedure above described the work supporting means 2 could be held positioned vertically as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the work supporting means I of the adapter B could be located in a different angular position. This capacity for the independent angular adjustment of the adapters effects substantial economy in that, assuming for example, that the adapter C is to be adjusted and .the adapter B is to be held, the adjustment of the adapter C will not interfere with the work that is being done at the same time upon the part F supported by the adapter B.

rlhe longitudinal axis of the sleeve 4 is in the central vertical plane (extending from front to rear) of the standard S. Thereby the shank 3 has a central location between the sides of the standard. In the great majority of repair operations the work supporting means are located substantially centrally with respect to the work which they support. Accordingly the locations of the shank 3 and the coaxial sleeve I4 provide for the support of the work in substantial lateral balance with respect to the standard and also provide the advantage of optimum compactness in that substantially no greater floor space is required for the simultaneous support of two parts to be repaired than has heretofore been required where the motor stand supports but a single part to be repaired.

The adapters B and C and the standard S are maintained in assembled relation by suitable means cooperative with the rear or freely projecting portion of the shank 3, the sleeve I 4 rotatably mounted on the collar 8, and the collar 5 upon the forwardly projecting portion of the shank 3. The rearwardly projecting portion of the shank 3 is preferably substantially lineally coextensive with the sleeve I4 whereby the end faces of .the shank 3 and the sleeve I4 are substantially fiush. While the means, indicated generally at M, for maintaining the parts in assembled relation may be of any suitable construction it is preferably of the construction shown. As shown the means M consist of an axially extending .threaded recess formed in the free projecting end of the shank 3, an assembly plate 2 subtending the shank 3, the collar 8 and the sleeve I4 and located adjacent the rear ends of these parts, and a securing screw having its shank passing through a central opening in the plate 22 and engaged in the recess 2l and its head 24 bearing against the plate 22. The plate 22, connected to the shank and bearing against the outer end face of the sleeve I4, cooperates with these parts and with the collar 5 to maintain the adapters and the standard S in assembled relation, the plate 22 thereby beingvin functional effect a clamping element and the collar 5 as abutting the front face of the sleeve 4 being in functional effect a companionclamping element. Compatibly with this function the plate 22 is not tightened to a degree suilicient substantially to oppose the free manual angular adjustment of the adapters B and C.

The adapter C may, of course, be of any suitableconstruction in which the work supporting means is carried by the .tubular shank I4. The drawings show an adapter of a preferred construction, Viz. the construction disclosed in the aforesaid application of Grant F. Silliman, Serial No. 106,309. This construction comprises coplanar ears or lugs 25 carried by the shank I4 and projecting at opposite sides thereof, and a pair of arms 26, each of which is pivoted as by a bolt fastener 21 to an ear or lug 25, the arms 26 being independently adjustably movable in a common plane parallel to the common plane of the ears 25. The arms 26 severally project in any appropriate angular relation to one another from the tubular shank I4 and conjontly support the work, either by direct attachment thereto as shown in Figure 1 or through the intermediary of a suitable clamp as shown in Figures 2 and 6.

As shown in Figure l the vehicle part D is'suitably secured to the outer end of the arms, for example, by bolts 28. In many instances the arms may be so directly attached. In such cases the only requirement is that the part upon which Work is to be performed have threaded openings in which the bolts may be engaged or otherwise @einen ;.12ave ,Suitable gronden .fr the diret :Supporti-ne abnehmeni Of the .armslLf these Openings or .o er `provisions an@ .not formcd in `the part 4as ema .ly mannheim@ the foar-.t may heiem-- prliately modified the repair shop Yor garage.

1n sundry other instances, however, it .may not be esirable ,or practical that the part have threaded openings to enable its direct-attachment the arms 26. Eorexample, it is not desirable Va diierential easing have threaded openings 6r recesses, 11.1 the instance of a differential ine, and in various other instances where -h fied Openlrig or IQQCSSQS are not desirable or practical, the clamp e le/ ments E (Figures 2 and `6) may be `carried by the ar-ms, preferably in i tion, as 3 1, if necessary to conform to .the `outline'of the part 4to be held. The clamping leaves 29 wand Si@ are ediustablv tied together and at the same time connected to the free end of an arm by a bolt 32, the head of which abats Aone clamping leaf and the securing nut of which abuts the other clamping leaf. The bolt 32 passes through openingsin the adjacent end of the arm 26 and the connecting clamping leaves; these, as angularly adjusted asa imitare held against displacement relatively to the arm 2S by a lock nut 33. In order that the clamping leaves may exert appropriate clamping pressure and also to prevent their relative pivotal displacement, one leaf, e. g. the leaf 29, is formed at its inner end with an inwardly projecting shouldered pin 34 having a reducedterminal portion 35 which fits in an opening in the inner end of the companion clamping leaves. rlhe arms, as provided with the clamping elements E, are independently and relatively adjustable in order that the adapter l may be nsed for the s npport of any part, regardless of its nature or particular design, which may best be Icarried by the clamping elements.

The bolts 23 (Figure 1) and the clamping elements E (Figures 2., .4 and 5) are devices carried by each arm at its free end for the supporting attachment of the arm to the vehicle part. The adjustable movement of the arms about their pivots 21 suitably locates the two supporting attachment devices with reference to the vehicle part according to its nature or particular design. e" bolt fastenings 21 at once provide pivots for the arms 2S and devices for securing the arms in any relative positions into which they may be adjusted. In effecting the adjustable movement of the arms and their attachment by means of the supporting attachment devices to the vehicle part the nuts of the bolt fastenings are backed ot suiiciently to permit the easy adjustable movements of the arms. When the arms have been properly positioned the supporting attachment devices are connected to theA vehicle part whereupon theV nuts of the bolt fastenings 21 are tightened in order to hold the arms against loose play and thereby to minimize any shearing stresses incident to unbalanced weight of the vvehicle part or to the repair or assembly operation which may be, performed upon the vehicle Peti- We claim:

1. A n assembly of the Aupright rstandard :of :a motor stand, -the standard vhaving lfront, rear and lateral sides, comprising, Iin combination, a horizontal sleeve at the upper end of the standard with its axis in the rfore and aft central vertical plane of the standard, a horizontal shank journalled for adjustable rotation Vin `the sleeve, the shank being centrally located between the lateral sides of the standard, a positioning collar fixed to one end portion of the shank and abutting an end -face of the sleeve, the other end portion of the shank projecting beyond the standard, a disc-shaped index plate keyed to the projecting end portion of the shank for removal from it and held in abutting relation to the adjacent face of the standard, a horizontal sleeve provided as a par-t .of an adapter and rotatably mounted in sur-rounding and coaxial relation to the projecting end portion of the shank, the sleeve being formed with a circumscribing index ange which abuts and confines the index plate, the index plate and the index ange each being formed with spaced peripheral notches, a manually releasable detent movably mounted upon the standard and engageable with any of the notches of the index plate, a second manually releasable detent movably mounted upon the standard and engageable with any of the notches of the index flange, each detent being releasable independently of the other *vl-'hereby to enable the adapter and the shank to be angularly adjusted independently of each other and releasable means connected to the projecting end yportion of the shank and bearing with functional clamping effect upon the end face of the sleeve, the releasable means cooperating in such eect with the collar on the shank, thereby to hold the shank, the sleeve and the `index plate in assembled relation relatively to one another and to the standard and to permit the independent adjustment of the adapter and the shank about the common axis of the shank and the sleeve.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim l wherein the rear ends of the shank and the sleeve are substantially coplanar and the releasable means comprises an axially extending threaded recess in the shank, an assembly plate bearing against the rear end face of the sleeve, and a securing screw passing through the assembly plate and having its shank engaged in the recess and its head bearing externally against the assembly plate.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the index plate is provided with a collar tted u pon the projecting en d portion of the shank,

and the horizontal sleeve is rotatably mounted npon the collar of the index plate.

C: WILSQN. GRANT F.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED YSIIA'IES PATENTS Number Name Date 459,692 Morgan Sept. l5., 1.89.1 1,229,414 Clark .V. June 1.2 19.17 1,721,424, Whightsil uff- July 1,6. 192.9

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